Typewriter desk



W. B. WILSON TYPEWRITER DESK sew, 1937.

Filed July 31, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR \Nmw mm W BY Qm ewv'w P M Q ATTORNEY Patented gept. 7, 1%37 'i ia ihi ii" @FFlCE TYPEWRITER DESK William Burton Wilson, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application July 31, 1935, Serial No. 33,939

7 Claims.

In the production of office furniture, it is very customary to construct desks or cabinets for typewriters which embody a swinging shelf for supporting the machine, a lid, and levers and links for raising and lowering the swinging shelf incident to opening and closing the lid. This lid, when closed, is flush with the top of the desk and forms a part thereof, the machine itself being swung downwardly within the confines of the desk, the machine being raised into operative position when the lid is opened.

This conventional type of desk is open to va rious objections and disadvantages, among which may be mentioned, specifically, a limited amount of unobstructed leg room beneath the desk for an operator, and also the fact that often, during the course of use, the various engaging surfaces of the various parts of the mechanism become worn, thus necessitating the expenditure of excessive effort on the part of the typist in raising and lowering the machine. In the usual construction of typewriter desks, the leg room beneath the desk is restricted by the position assumed by the swinging shelf, this usually assuming, when the lid is closed, a downwardly-sloping position, the angle of which is such that it is difficult for an operator to avoid striking legs or knees against this shelf when sitting at the desk with the lid in closed position.

In view of this obstruction of the space beneath the desk, the present invention provides a typewriter desk which presents an improved construction in that the supporting shelf for the typewriter assumes a position when the desk is closed such that the aforesaid space beneath the desk is relatively unobstructed, thus providing greater freedom and comfort for a worker at the desk.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for counterbalancing the weight of the typewriter and its supporting shelf, so that the positioning thereof will be accomplished easily at all times.

A still further object of the invention is to provide instrumentalities for effecting adjustment of the counterbalancing means, so that the said means will remain positively effective notwithstanding increased wear between the relatively moving parts of the adjustable portions of the desk construction, so as to maintain continuously easy the positioning of the typewriter and supporting shelf.

A still further object of the invention is to minimize the number of parts of the construction, thereby providing a construction wherein the least amount of trouble will be experienced in using the construction and in effecting needed repairs thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the present improved construction will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims; and the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which wili be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

The present invention will be understood more readily by reference to the accompanying drawings, which show an illustrative embodiment of one form of construction embracing the principles of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a typewriter desk constructed in accordance with the present improved construction, the desk being closed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the side wall of the desk being removed, and the top of the desk open, the typewriter being indicated in operative position, the view being taken from the left as viewed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing details of the mounting of the supporting shelf;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a counterbalancing device for counteracting the effect of the weight of the typewriter and shelf; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 65 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particulariy to the drawings, the numeral i9 represents generally the body of a typewriter desk embracing the present improved construction, which desk is provided with a swing-supporting shelf ll for a standard typewriter. This shelf is substantially plane, as indicated at E2, on the bottom surface as well as on the top surface thereof, and it has secured to it at each side, in any suitable manner, supporting arms !3, which turn upon oppositelydisposed studs I l mounted on the end walls of the typewriter compartment of the desk and extend inwardly of the compartment, as indicated clearly in Fig. 1, for example. The position writer is in operative position, is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in full lines in Fig. 3.

In order to reduce the effects of wear, the arms it are provided with an inset wear plate Eta (see Fig. 4) which may be suitably fastened, as by screws Ma, Ma, the plate being inserted in the arms is until it is substantially flush therewith. A similar plate it on the adjacent side of the desk 59, fastened by screws or the like l lb, Mb, receives the threaded end Eda of the shank i522 of the lugs i l. The plates i311 and I5 present wearresisting surfaces as the arms l3 and lugs it turn during the movement of the shelf H.

The plates it serve as mounting plates for the lugs i l, being threaded to receive the threaded ends of the lugs M, as indicated at lea.

It will be seen'that the arms I3 are substantially in the form of inverted isosceles triangles, the pivot lugs M being at the apex. Therefore, the movement of the shelf H relative to the desk It will be rearward and downward, as the shelf is moved from supporting to inoperative position, the shelf it being substantially in vertical position when in its inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2, the movement being in a vertical arc having the lugs M as its center and the arms It as its radius.

. When in this position, the shelf ii is supported on a support ill, which extends horizontally from the rear wall of the desk, and which is provided with an upstanding abutment Ha. which is engaged by the shelf H when the latter is in the inoperative position of Fig. 2. The support l'l does not project sufficiently far forward to bstruct the legs of an operator sitting at the desk while providing sufiicient space between the abutment lid and the rear wall of the desk for a typewriter lt mounted on the shelf H to clear nicely the said rear wall. In this inoperative position, it will be seen that it occupies a substantially vertical position and substantially behind a vertical plane passed through the desk and midway between the front and rear edges of the desk. When the shelf l i is in operative position, it rests on an upper support it which extends across the front of the desk, as shown in Fig. 1, at a suitable distance below the plane of the desk top, and being suitably fastened to the sides of the typewriter compartment of the desk. When in operative position, the shelf it extends a convenient distance beyond the front of the desk, so that it may be grasped, if desired, for swinging the typewriter and shelf into inoperative position.

The top of the desk is conveniently made of two sections is and 2!], which are hinged together at Zita, so that when the desk is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the sections it? and 283 will lie flatly open, forming a plane surface, with the abutment 2% extending downwardly to engage the transverse support it, as shown in Fig. 2. When the top is open, as shown in Fig. 3, the sections 59 and 20 are folded upon each other, as will be clear from the view, and the abutment 28a, which is hingedly mounted to the top section 28, may be made to lie flat against the top section 20. In this position, the racks 25 are accessibleto the operator for holding work, or the like.

The typewriter is shifted either into operative or inoperative position by the operator grasping the shelf l l which may be provided conveniently with suitable handles (not shown) for the purpose, and swinging the shelf upon the lugs it. The combined weight of the typewriter l 8 and the shelf ll being substantiaha substantial effort of the arms l3 and the shelf ll when the type- I would be required to be expended by an operator in lifting and lowering the typewriter.

In order to overcome this weight, counterbalancing means are provided. These means comprise resilient strips or elongated springs 22, which are wrapped around the lugs M, as indicated at 23, on Figs. 5 and 6, for example, the studs forming the fulcrum for the springs 22. By referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the shanks i573 of the lugs i l have an enlarged collar portion 230 upon which the springs 22 are wound, the head Mia of the lugs it forming a flange between which flange and the arm I3 each of the springs 22 is retained.

One of the ends 22a. of the spring 22 may be slightly bent flatly engaging the under side of the shelf H, the end 22a. being left free, however, except for its sliding engagement with the shelf l I. Each spring operates in a guide 2'! secured to the under side of the shelf 5 l by screws or the like 28, the guides ill comprising a rectangular groove 29 in which the spring 22 slides relative to the shelf l l as the latter swings upon the lugs 54.

The other end of Eda. of the springs 22 is bent into a hook 2 5 which is inserted in an eye 25a of a turnbuckle 25, each of these turnbuckles being secured at 23 to the sides of the typewriter compartment of the desk, as will be apparent, clearly, in Fig. i; and it will be seen from this View that the springs, the mounting thereof, the guides, and the other elements of the counterbalancing mechanism are duplicated on each side of the desk.

Each of the springs 22 is anchored at one end by a turnbuckle 25, and the spring is pivoted on the lug it, as described above. Now it will be apparent that as the shelf 5 i is swung backwardly and downwardly, as it passes dead center, its weight and the weight of the typewriter :8 become overbalanced, and the shelf drops into the full line position of Fig. 2, until it strikes the abutment i'la. Unless this movement is effectively resisted either by the operator or the counterbalaneing instrumentalities, the force of the drop would be excessive and damaging.

This movement, however, is resisted and cushioned by the action of the springs 22, which are placed under tension as will be apparent from Fig. 2, and the force of these springs 22 is exerted in opposition to the weight of the shelf 5 l and the typewriter l8 mounted thereon, so that the springs 22 continuously tend to lift the shelf H and the typewriter it, the springs 22 being of such size and strength or tension as to exert a force on the shelf l l with the typewriter thereon, only sufficient to balance it in any of its various positions, but insufficient to move the shelf H without assistance. The force exerted by the springs 22 becomes substantially inactive when the shelf l i assumes its horizontal position, but the springs act so that only a very slight effort will be needed on the part of the operator to effect the requisite control of the movement of the typewriter.

The guides 2i hold the springs in proper position relative to shelf ll, preventing lateral displacement of the springs relative to the shelf, thus holding the springs against lateral slipping, as the end 2201 of each spring never clears the; groove 29 in the guides 2i; and when, for any reason, it becomes desirable to adjust the tension of the springs 22, so as to maintain the proper balance of the shelf H and the typewriter it, such adjustment is readily effected through the instrumentalities of the turnbuckles '25 as will be apparent.

It will be seen that the typewriter shelf l2 moves from a horizontal operative. into a vertical inoperative position, and contrarily, and that the springs 22 engage the shelf snugly in all positions of the shelf as it passes from the operative to inoperative position and back again. As the shelf i2 assumes its vertical inoperative position, the tension on the springs 22 will be increased so that an extra effort will be required to lock the shelf and typewriter thereon into vertical inoperative position. This means, therefore, that all shocks incident to this position of the typewriter are avoided, and consequent damage or breakage of the machine, due to excessive force in dropping into the inoperative position, is avoided.

Another feature which is inherent to the action of the springs 22 lies in the fact that the tension of the springs, combined with the close engagement between the springs and the typewriter shelf when the latte-r is in. horizontal position, provides for all practical purposes a complete elimination of vibration during operation of the machine. This becomes a feature of substantial advantage, especially when the machine is being used for rapid typing.

The pwition and tension. of the springs, together with the ciose engagement thereof with the shelf 12, prevents the. possibility of injury to an operator due to any tendency of the typewriter and shelf to rebound during manipulation thereof, as such tendency is eliminated by the springs of the present construction. Therefore, there is avoided any possibility of an operators fingers being caught by the shelf or machine by such rebound during the manipulation of the shelf and machine from one position to another.

Another feature which may be mentioned in this connection lies in the fact that by the provision of the tension-adjusting means, that is the turnbuckles 25, machines having different weights may be placed upon the shelf !2, and the same results will be obtained in a simple manner by merely adjusting the tension of the springs by actuation of the turnbuckles 25 in whatever manner may be required to compensate for the differences in the weights of the machines positioned on the shelf.

It will be seen, therefore, that the present construction represents definite improvements in providing adequate unobstructed leg room beneath the desk, and great ease in moving the typewriter from inoperative position into operative position, and, contrarily, from operative position into inoperative position. When the desk is closed, the shelf H is positioned well to the rear of the desk and at a substantial distance from the floor, the forward edge of the support I? being beyond the reach of the legs of an operator sitting at the desk; and instead of occupying an excessively large amount of space, the space occupied by the typewriter and the shelf when the desk is closed is compact and relatively small compared to the total space beneath the desk. Also the tension of the springs 22 may be adjusted to effect a constant action under all conditions.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited, necessarily, to the specific details of the construction as are herein specifically illustrated and described, but it will be apparent that such details are subject to various modifications which will become apparent readily to one skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention; and it will be understood, therefore, that it is intended and desired to include within the scope of the invention such modifications and changes as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment, of a typewriter shelf in the compartment movable from a horizontal operative position for a typewriter mounted thereon to a substantially vertical inoperative position within the compartment below the level of the top thereof, the said shelf becoming unbalanced as it moves from operative to inoperative position, rigid supporting devices for the shelf rigidly connected to the shelf for enabling the shelf to be swung vertically from the operative position to the substantially vertical inoperative position and back again into the operative position, resilient counterbalancing means for the shelf substantially equalizing the unbalancing of the shelf and typewriter mounted thereon, the counterbalancing means comprising a spring lever having a fixedlypositioned fulcrum and an arm freely engaging the shelf, and a retaining guide for the arm secured to the shelf for preventing lateral slipping of the arm relative to the shelf, the said arm being retained continuously in the guide in all positions of the shelf and the said shelf being at all times completely beyond normal leg reach of an operator normally seated at the desk and affording unobstructed knee space for the operator.

2. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment, of a typewriter shelf in the compartment movable from a horizontal position to a nonhorizontal position within the compartment, the shelf becoming unbalanced as it moves into its non-horizontal position, and mounting means for the shelf, including supporting arms and lugs mounted in the desk body u on which studs the arms are pivotally mounted, the said lugs including a shank provided with a threaded end extending into the desk body, a bearing plate in the desk body for receiving the threaded end of the lug shank, the said lug shank having an enlarged portion upon which the respective shelfsupporting arms are mounted, a still further enlarged collar portion of the shank abutting the supporting arm, a head for the lug on the said enlarged collar portion of the shank, a spring wrapped around the said enlarged collar portion of the shank and retained between the lug head and the shelf-supporting arm, the said spring acting to substantially ovecome the unbalancing of the shelf, and a wear plate inserted in the shelf-supporting arm adjacent to the said bearing plate in the desk body for resisting wear as the shelf moves from one position to the other.

3. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment, of a typewriter shelf in the compartment movable in a vertical are from a horizontal operative position for a typewriter mounted thereon to a substantially vertical inoperative position within the compartment and below the level of the top thereof, supporting devices for the shelf including rigid supporting arms for the shelf rigidly connected to the shelf, fixed pivotal lugs connecting the arms to the desk body, the said arms being turnable about the lugs, the said lugs extending through the arms and into the desk body to provide an axis of rotation for the shelf,

' and resilient counterbalancing devices fulcrumed on the lugs and bearing upwardly against the said shelf to substantially counteract the weight of the shelf and typewriter as the shelf and typewriter are moved from operative position to inoperative position and tending continuously to lift the shelf and typewriter into operative position.

4. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment or well, of a typewriter shelf in the well arcuately movable from a horizontal operative position for a typewriter mounted thereon to a substantially vertical inoperative position down within the said well substantially beyond normal leg reach of an operator normally seated at the desk, rigid carrying arms rigidly secured to the shelf and pivotally mounted to the desk at the sides of the said well, whereby the said shelf and typewriter move arcuately between operative and inoperative positions with the arms as radii, and adjustable equalizing means operating on the shelf to equalize the weight of the shelf and typewriter mounted thereon.

5. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment which is substantially open in its front to receive the knees and legs of a typist seated at the desk, of a typewriter shelf in the compartment movable in a vertical are from a horizontal operative position for a typewriter mounted thereon to a substantially vertical inoperative position Within the compartment at the rear thereof and below the level of the top thereof, supporting devices for the shelf including substantially oppositely disposed rigid supporting arms rigidly connected to the shelf and fixed pivotal lugs connecting the arms to the desk body for enabling the shelf to be moved from operative to inoperative positions, and contrarily, and resilient counterbalancing means r fixedly mounted on the lugs and comprising a spring lever having one end freely engaging the shelf and being placed under tension as the shelf is moved from operative position to inoperative position and bearing against the shelf to tend to continuously lift the same into operative position, the inoperative position of the shelf affording free knee space in the typewriter compartment for the typist.

6. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment, of a typewriter shelf in the compartment movable in a vertical are from a horizontal operative position for a typewriter mounted thereon to a substantially vertical inoperative position within the compartment at the rear thereof and below the level of the top thereof, supporting devices for the shelf, including rigid supporting arms rigidly connected to the shelf and fixed pivotal lugs connecting the arms to the desk body forming the axis of rotation of the shelf, resilient counterbalancing devices fulcrumed on the lugs and bearing upwardly under tension against the said shelf to substantially counteract the weight of the shelf and typewriter as the shelf and typewriter are moved from operative position to inoperative position, and turnbuckles connected to the counterbalancing devices for adjusting the tension thereof.

7. A typewriter desk comprising the combination with a desk body defining a typewriter compartment, of a typewriter shelf in the compartment movable from a horizontal operative posi- "on for a typewriter mounted thereon to a substantially vertical inoperative position within the compartment below the level of the top thereof, supporting arms for the shelf rigidly connected to the shelf and pivotally connected to the desk body at fixed points for enabling the shelf to be moved from operative to inoperative positions, and contrarily, and counterbalancing instrumentalities operatively engaging the shelf and arranged to substantially equalize the weight of the shelf and a typewriter mounted thereon during movement of the shelf and typewriter from one position to the other, the said shelf being at all times completely beyond normal leg reach of an operator normally seated at the desk and affording unobstructed knee space for the operator.

WILLJAM BURTON WILSON. 

